Authorities in Afghanistan say a Taliban suicide bomber set off an explosion at the entrance to the parliament building in Kabul on Monday, while gunmen who attempted to storm the compound battled with police.
Inside the parliament, lawmakers were meeting to confirm the appointment of a defense minister, police said. Unable to make it inside, the gunmen made their way to a building under construction, which is now surrounded by police, The Associated Press reports. Jennifer Glasse with Al Jazeera was watching parliamentary proceedings on television when the camera began to shake. "We heard two loud explosions and people nearby heard gunfire," she said.
UPDATE: Police say they have killed all six or seven Taliban gunmen, and that 18 civilians — including two women and two children — were injured in the attack.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Earlier, the Taliban captured a second district in the Kunduz province after fighting with local security forces. The head of the provincial council, Mohammad Yusuf Ayubi, said the local forces suffered casualties, and about 150,000 residents were unable to leave the area. You can watch raw footage of the Kabul parliament attack below. Catherine Garcia
-
Pull over for these one-of-a-kind gas stationsThe Week Recommends Fill ’er up next to highland cows and a giant soda bottle
-
Trump tariff uncertainty casts a dark cloud over Black FridayIN THE SPOTLIGHT Retailers and shoppers alike are starting to reassess their seasonal prospects as the Trump administration’s efforts to upturn the global economy start hitting close to home
-
‘Chess’feature Imperial Theatre, New York City
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditionsSpeed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billionSpeed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on recordSpeed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homesSpeed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creatureSpeed Read
